Infinite Thought Truth and the Return to Philosophy ALAIN BADIOU Translated and edited by Oliver Feltham and Justin Clemens continuumContinwuen “The Tower Bing 15 ast 26th Steet York Road New York onde, SEL 7NX. SY 10010 ‘canine com Editorial material and selection © Oliver Feltham and Jstn Clemens Philp and Desse, Philpy and Km, Plilaypy and “te war agit ‘enor’ © Alain Badion Phiwpty and drt, an The Defi of Pip Seu or Canin, 1993) Philspy andthe De of Cammain © Editions de VAube (om Due ‘dant ssc, 958 English language waslations“Philaophy and rath! © Philosophy tn Police © Radial Pious, Philosophy and Poychoanalys “Aas al oter Engh language ransation © Contin Reprod 2005, Ths paperback aiion published 2004 by Continuum All righ reserved. No pat of his publication may be reproduced or teanamited in sy form or by any mean, elevione or mecha. Inelaing photccopying, recording ean ielrmation storage Fete ‘pee, wlthou prior permindon iwetng fom the pubes Bitiah Library Catal Publication Data ‘Ncatalogueresard for ths book vaiable rom the Brith Libraty ISBN 0-8264-8724-5 (Hardback) (aan 75202 (Paperback) Peed and ound y in Great Bein by The Bath Pres, Bath Contents troduction to Alain Badiou's philosophy Philosophy and desire Philosophy and truth Philosophy and polities Philosophy and psychoanalysis Philosophy and art Philosophy and cinema Philosophy andl the ‘death of communism’ Philosophy and the ‘war against ‘The definition of philosophy Ontology and polities: an interview with Alain Badiow Index of names 195An introduction to Alain Badiou’s philosophy is one of France's foremost living philosophers. n ofthe foree and originality of his work in the Englishespeaking world has been slow to come, pethaps because it is dificult to assimilate his work within the established categories of “contemporary French philosophy However, such recognition is now gathering momentum. No fewer than six translations of his major works, (wo collections of his essays, and one monograph on his work are currently in pres! ‘The first English-language 0 ference devoted to his work was held in May 2002 at Cardif, a critical introduction to his work has appeared, and three translations of his works ~ Ethics, Deleze, a ‘Manifest for Philosophy ~ are already on the shelves? The present volume aims to provide a brief, accesible introduction to the diversity and power of Badiou's thought, collecting a series of conference papers and essays. The ‘opening text sets the scene, giving a polemical overview of the state of philotophy in relation to the contemporary ‘world, The second ehapter gives a general overview, via the categories of ethics and truth, of Badiou's model of fundamental change in the domains of art, love, politics